2-Jesse Hawkins

For this week's blog assignment, I'd like to like at a browser add-on called Adblock Plus; the Mozilla version can be found here.

Adblock Plus, as the name would suggest, is an add-on for blocking ads. It blocks ads in videos, banner ads, pop-ups, and practically any other method of ad delivery that exists.

While Adblock mostly works in the background, there are a
few customizable options available for users of the add-on. These options are available from a small button on the browser's add-on toolbar.

This menu allows for reporting of issues that may be caused by Adblock (or when ads on the current site aren't blocked), filtering preferences, and disabling Adblock on certain pages (like, for instance, if you wanted to support the page your on with ad views, which generate revenue for the site holder). There are more advanced options, but they aren't necessary for the average user, and they take up very little space in the menu.

Adblock in its entirety acts as a rather good example of obvious design. For one, its intented use is completely obvious to the user. "What does it do?" It blocks ads. Furthermore, Adblock is focused on its purpose, and all of its features go towards bettering what it does. As with many browser add-ons, Adblock just kind of does its thing in the background, so there isn't a whole lot of management or knowledge required on behalf of the user. Finally, the menu for adblock is small and the options are neatly ordered, allowing for great ease of use.